Welcome to Portarlington |
Portarlington is a charming little townland in County Laois, Ireland. It's like a storybook place with a rich history that dates back hundreds of years! Let's take a journey back in time.
In the 17th century, around the time your great-great-great-great grandparents might have been alive, a Frenchman named Henri de Massue came to Ireland. He saw the lovely landscapes of Portarlington and decided to make it a home for French people who were fleeing from wars in their own country. That's why, even today, you'll find French-sounding street names in Portarlington.
One exciting thing that happened here was the building of a special school in the 18th century that taught French and Latin - languages that most people didn't learn back then! This school became famous all over Europe. Imagine going to a school that famous!
Portarlington also has a beautiful church called St. Paul's, built over 200 years ago. Imagine, it's been standing there, watching the town grow and change for more than two centuries!
So, next time you visit Portarlington, remember the stories of the French settlers and the famous school. Every street and building has a tale to tell!
Portarlington is a cool town in County Laois, Ireland. It's special because it sits on the border of two counties: Laois and Offaly. A beautiful river, called the River Barrow, flows by the town. Imagine having a picnic by the river on a sunny day!
Some streets in Portarlington are very old and have interesting names. For example, there's a street called 'French Church Street'. I bet you're wondering why it's called that! Well, it's because a long time ago, people from France came to live in Portarlington.
The town is surrounded by nature. There are lots of different types of trees in the area, like ash, oak, and birch trees. If you're lucky, you might spot a squirrel or a fox! There are also many birds like robins, sparrows, and swans on the river.
The town is full of interesting things to see. There's even an old clock on the main street that's been there for over 100 years! It's a lovely place full of history, nature and friendly people. So, if you ever get to visit Portarlington, remember to look out for all these amazing things!
Hi, I'm Pat and I'm 8 years old! I live in a really cool place called Portarlington Co. Laois. It's in Ireland, and it's super special because it's right by the River Barrow. I love to walk by the river and watch the ducks, it's really peaceful and sometimes we even have picnics there!
Right in the heart of our town is a big, old church called St. Michael's Church. It's really old, like hundreds of years old! It's got a big bell tower that you can see from everywhere in town. I always wonder what it would be like to ring that bell.
There's also a really cool place called Lea Castle. It's not a castle like you see in fairytales, it's mostly ruins now, but it's still fun to explore. I like to imagine what it was like when knights and princesses lived there!
I love living in Portarlington because there's always something to see or do. And the best part is, I get to share it all with my friends. Can't wait to see what adventures we'll have next!
Portarlington is a friendly town in County Laois, Ireland. The name sounds a bit fancy, doesn't it? Well, that's because it comes from the French language. Yes, you heard that right! The Irish name for Portarlington is "Cúil an tSúdaire" which means "the corner of the tanner". A tanner was a person who turned animal skins into leather a long, long time ago.
But why does an Irish town have a French name? That's an interesting story. Back in the 1600s, a lot of French people came to live in Portarlington. They were called Huguenots and they had to leave their home in France because of some problems there. They brought their language and culture with them and that's how Portarlington got its French name.
Today, even though we don't speak much French in Portarlington, the name of the town reminds us of its rich history and the brave Huguenots who made it their home. So, the next time you visit, remember you're stepping into a little piece of French history, right in the heart of Ireland.